NFL Roundup for March 12, 2015

The Oakland Raiders added another new starter to their defense, signing former Philadelphia safety Nate Allen to a four-year contract on Thursday to fill the hole created when Tyvon Branch was released.

General manager Reggie McKenzie has been busy to start the free agency period, having already added new starting defensive tackle Dan Williams and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, as well as linebacker Malcolm Smith, to a defense that allowed the most points in the NFL last season.

With a new defensive-minded coach in Jack Del Rio, an energetic coordinator in Ken Norton Jr. and plenty of money to spend, the Raiders have already made some upgrades this offseason.

•Chiefs release Bowe: Two years ago, the Chiefs were so desperate to keep Dwayne Bowe on the roster that they gave him a five-year deal that made him one of the league’s highest-paid wide receivers.

Turns out that he was going to be paid a bit too well.

The Chiefs released their former first-round pick , unwilling to take the $14 million hit against the salary cap that Bowe carried this season.

“This was a tough decision to make,” said John Dorsey, whose signing of Bowe to a $56 million deal was one of his first major moves as general manager. “Dwayne is a team-first guy and he holds a number of team receiving records. We felt this was in the best interest of the club.”

The move came one day after the Chiefs wrapped up a $55 million, five-year deal with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who was drafted by Chiefs coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia.

•Colts waive Trent Richardson: Trent Richardson’s time with the Colts is over after two disappointing seasons.

The former top-five draft pick acquired in a trade with Cleveland that cost Indianapolis a first-round pick in 2013 was waived after the running back played just one snap in three playoff games last season.

Richardson rushed for 977 yards and six touchdowns in two seasons, and had just 1 yard on four carries in three playoff games over those two years.

•Jets sign Cromartie: Cornerback Antonio Cromartie agreed to terms with the Jets on a four-year contract, worth $32 million in base salary, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The move comes a day after New York finalized a deal to bring Darrelle Revis back on a five-year, $70 million contract.

Cromartie’s deal can have a maximum value of $35 million.

Cromartie and Revis played together with the Jets from 2010-12, and Revis said during a conference call Wednesday night that he planned to reach out to his former teammate about reuniting in New York.

“I’m going to get in contact with him very soon here,” Revis said, “and try to convince him to hopefully come back and join our Batman-and-Robin tandem we had a couple of years ago.”

Adams will provide depth behind Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford and Robert McClain. Clayborn could provide immediate help as a starter - if he can avoid more injuries after playing in only a little more than half of his team’s games in his first four seasons.

•Ravens retain RB Forsett: Justin Forsett agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, who keep their leading rusher from 2014 after losing several key free agents earlier in the week.

The 29-year-old Forsett is coming off the finest season of his seven-year career. Thrust into a starting role after the Ravens released Ray Rice, Forsett shed his journeyman label to run for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns.